Messianic Jewish Teachings from Beth Immanuel

The Death of Paul Philip Levertoff

BI Staff — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 15:54:42 +0000

At Beth Immanuel, we ordinarily gather on the eve of Rosh Chodesh Av to celebrate the life and legacy of Paul Philip Levertoff. It’s another of our long-standing customs which will not be observed this year for the sake of precautions over the transmission of Covid-19. Rosh Chodesh Av is the first day of the fifth month on the biblical calendar and the beginning of a period of time called “the nine days” which concludes with the a solemn fast on the ninth of Av (Tisha b’Av). The ninth day of Av is the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple.

Praying from the Siddur Quarantine Style

BI Staff — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:14:54 +0000

The Covid-19 epidemic is forcing us to stay at home. The governor of the State of Wisconsin has announced a mandatory “shelter at home” order as has the governor of Minnesota.

Can a Gentile be Messianic?

Beth Immanuel — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 00:21:14 +0000

Perhaps you have heard of a Messianic Jew. But is it appropriate to refer to a Gentile as “Messianic”?

A Messianic Jew is a Jewish person who practices Messianic Judaism. They share the same basic faith as other observant Jews throughout history. Their specific kind of Judaism, however, is one that acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah.

What is a Messianic Jew?

Beth Immanuel — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 00:08:47 +0000

All throughout history, there have been individuals of Jewish descent who have followed Jesus. Typically, this has meant leaving Judaism behind and embracing Christian theology and practice.

Towards the end of the 1800s, a new idea emerged among Jewish Christians. They realized that Jesus himself was Jewish, and in New Testament times, Christianity did not exist as a religion distinct from Judaism. So why should Jews who follow Jesus abandon their heritage to embrace something that was foreign even to him?

Shabbat Candles: The Little Lights that Shine Throughout the World

Beth Immanuel — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 20:16:56 +0000

Every Friday evening, as the sun is about to sink below the horizon, Jewish women around the world light candles. We are welcoming Shabbat, the weekly Sabbath. The glow of Shabbat candles is one of the most iconic and nostalgic images in the Jewish mind

What is Shabbat?

Beth Immanuel — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 18:17:26 +0000

At Beth Immanuel Messianic Synagogue, we honor Shabbat (the sabbath) on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. Every week, individuals and families set aside the day to rest from regular weekday routines. We spend the day singing songs, studying Scripture, sharing meals, and enjoying fellowship.

Passover: Prelude on the Mountain

BI Staff — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 21:43:03 +0000

More than three years had passed since Yeshua of Nazareth, the rabbi from Galilee, began to travel and teach about the imminent appearance of the Kingdom of Heaven. His message of repentance, faith in him, and charity to the downtrodden did not sit well with the political and religious figures he encountered. The Sadducees feared his messianic proclamations would gain strength and cause Rome to marshall its soldiers and place Judaea under even stricter control than the status quo.

The Four Mitzvot of Purim

Beth Immanuel — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 02:59:32 +0000

Purim is a festive holiday commemorating the miraculous salvation of the Jewish people in Persia from near destruction. According to the book of Esther, Jews everywhere are obliged to celebrate this victory each year with four special practices. Learn about these fun observances and how you can participate!

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Beth Immanuel — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 23:20:27 +0000

When you look at some calendars you might notice the day labeled “Rosh Hashanah” either in September or early October. This is an important Jewish holiday which comes right from the Bible. It has important and deep spiritual meaning that is relevant to both Jews and Christians

Counting the Omer

BI Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:44:16 +0000

The command to bring the first sheaf of the harvest to the Temple is of great significance to the disciples of Yeshua. It is an obscure appointment on the Biblical calendar, sometimes called the First Fruits of the Barley Harvest, but better known simply by its Biblical name, “The Omer.” The Omer is a minor festival with major Messianic implications.

Passover Overview

BI Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:39:29 +0000

Passover is not just one night! Learn about the full Passover schedule: the "Great Sabbath," the removal of leaven, seder night, the week of unleavened bread, the counting of the omer, and the special last day of Passover.

Last Seder: A Jewish Reading of the Last Supper

BI Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:28:31 +0000

On the night before he suffered, Jesus ate a “last supper” with his disciples. At that meal, he gave them bread and wine and told them to take the bread and wine in remembrance of him. Thanks to increasing levels of education in the Jewish roots of Christianity, most Christians today realize that the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples was a traditional Jewish Passover Seder meal, but most Christians probably still do not realize exactly how the Last Supper conforms to a traditional seder meal.

The Sign of Jonah

BI Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:18:51 +0000

Does Matthew 12:40 imply that Jesus did not die on a Friday? On what day of the week did Jesus die?

Gentiles and Passover

BI Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:02:31 +0000

Is it permissible for a Gentile to eat a Passover Seder meal? The Torah does warn, "A sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it" (Exodus 12:45), and it also says, "No uncircumcised person may eat of it" (Exodus 12:48).

Hosting a Seder

BI Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:33:27 +0000

So you’ve decided to do a Passover seder meal! Good. The celebration of the Passover with unleavened bread and bitter herbs is a commandment. Even more, it is a commandment of the Master to do this in remembrance of Him! You are preparing to keep one of the Master’s most sacred instructions to his disciples! God will bless you as you keep his Torah and His son’s command. May the Lord bless your home.

A Pass-Ova Mystery

BI Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:22:21 +0000

The primary function of the Passover Seder is to tell the story of the exodus to one’s children. The booklet that we read during the seder is called the Haggadah, which means “telling.” As it says, “You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt’” (Exodus 13:8).

Last Supper or Last Seder?

BI Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:15:57 +0000

Was Jesus’ Last Supper a Passover Seder? On what day did Yeshua die, and did he celebrate a Passover Seder with his disciples or not?

Yeshua died on a Friday, but what day of the month was it? And by “day of the month,” I mean, on what day of the biblical calendar did He die? Was it the thirteenth day of Nissan, the fourteenth day of Nissan, or the fifteenth day of Nissan?

Leaven and Passover

BI Staff — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:59:33 +0000

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. (Exodus 12:15)

Doubling Holidays: Are Two Heads Better than One?

BI Staff — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 20:20:35 +0000

If you compare a modern-day Jewish calendar with passages in the Torah that refer to the holidays (such as Leviticus 23), you will find a notable discrepancy. Many holidays that the Bible seems to say last for one day are observed for two days on the Jewish calendar. Learn why this practice exists and if it is truly biblical.

A Kosher Sukkah

BI Staff — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 19:53:01 +0000

The holiday of Sukkot is not only lots of fun, but it is also deeply meaningful and spiritually enriching. It is a perfect time to get kids involved in keeping the commandments and to teach them important things about the Kingdom of God. On the holiday of Sukkot, the Bible gives us tangible and visual ways to worship God and learn about Him.